Automatic reducing and cut-off valve



Dec. 27, 1927.

W. C. MCKEOWN AUTOMATIC REDUCING AND CUT-OFF VALVE Filed June 20, 1925 Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

uu En s'ra'rns PATENT orrlce.

WILLIAM C. rrennown, or Barrier-one, rr/invnaun, assreivon TO raonnnn Eocenrronn ArrLrArtcE COMPANY, or

MARYLAND.

Application filed June 20 1 My invention'relates to automatic reducing and cut-oil valves.

@ne object of my invention is to provide a valve tor use in a fluid pressure line which isso constructed and arranged that the fluid passing therethrough may be initially throttled to etl'ect any desired reduction in pressure, or extent of flow, dependent upon a predetermined maximum demand on the exhaust siue of said valve, the variation in pressure or volume of flow thereafter being automatically. controlled by the demand on said exhaust side, as the same varies from a maximum to Zero.

A further object is to provide a valve of the character described which is marked by a absence of packed joints and a freedom of action of all movingparts, with a consequent prevention of leakage and sticking.

A further object is to provide a valve of r character described which'is sensitive t small changes in pressure and in which the total movement of the regulating portion thereof is etiected by theaddition of relatively short movements of certain eledents. whereby said valve is actuated with minimum t wear on the working parts.

it :tur'ther object is to provide a valve of the character described which is operable by means positioned out of the main line oi'iiow of the fluid passing therethrough and which is provided with auxiliary means for preventing an inadvertent opening of themain valve contrary to the demand on the exhaust side thereof.

My improved valve is adapted more particularly for use with fluids which exist in a liquid state on the inlet side oi. the valve and, through a reduction in pressure in said valve, emerge therefrom 111 a vapor or gaseous condition. Such a use is exemplified in my copending application for a liquid fuel gas range, executed and filed on even date herewith. However, I do not desire to be limited to a use of the foregoing character, as it is obvious that my improved valve may be used advantageously"with either liquids or gases, regardless of whether a transformation from one to the other occurs within the valve.

hes'e and further objects will be set forth in the followingspecification, reference belug had to the accompanying drawing, and

one side of the: body portion 10.

Biinrrrronn, raanynaunyre CORPORATION or AUTOMATIG Rnnucnve AND our-Orr VALVE.

, 1. 125. Serial No. 38,482.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig- 1 looking 1n the direction 01" the arrow 8 in said figure.

Fig. 4tis an auxiliary valve, shown in sectionul elevation, which is used with my improved valve under certain conditions of service. i

5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of connecting my improved valve in a fluid pressure line. 1'11 the drawing: Y The numeral represents a body portion having a passage 11. and a passage 12 disposed substantially at right angles to the passage 11 and connecting said passage with 17, the upper end otwhich isscrewed in a threaded portion 18 provided in the body 10 adjacent the terminusof the inlet line 13.

The external diameter of said stem is smaller than the internal diameter of the passages 11 and 16, respectively. A duct 19 extends the full length of the stem 17 and nearthe lower portion thereof is contracted into an orifice 20. The mouth of said orifice is disv posed below the flange and within an extensible chamber 21, one end of which is termed by a disk QZand the lateral" surface of which by the superimposed folds 23 whose ends are secured respectively to the disk 22 and the flange 151' Said folds are preferably made from any suitable thin and flexible material which is impervious to liquids and gases and so that the disk22 may be made to approach the flange 15, 0r i-ecede theretrom, without setting up any destructive crystalline action in'the' curved portions of said folds.

The disk 22 is provided with a valve plug eventually re:urhes the exhaust point of the exhaust line 25.

as follows which one end of anexhaustline is secured, andthat, therefore a fluid entering my improved valve through the inlet line 13 line 25 through ithe stein 1T chamber ill, and the pass it? and ll, being reduced in pressure, or extent ol tlou, depending upon the cl'iaracter of the fluid, by the interaction of the orifice 20 and the valve ping In order to autoinatically control the movement of the plug); 24- I employ a second extensible chamber 26 which is closed at its upper end by a disk 27, said disk abutting on the disk 22. The lateral surface of the chamber 26 is composed of folds 28 which are similar in construction to and formed from material similar to the folds 23. The upper end of said folds issecured to the disk 27 and the lower end to a flange 29 formed on a nipple 30. Said nipple is tapped for thereception of one end 01- a bypass 31, the other end of which is secured at any desired The interior of the chamber 26 is therefore connected to said line. A coilspring 32 is disposed in the chamber 26 between the disl' E27 and the flange 29 and serves'to maintain said disk in contact with the disk 22, thereby normally retaining the plug Q l in closing engagement with the OrifiCeEZO In order to provide any desired tension in said spring a hollow nut 33, upon the interior shoulder EB-lof which the flange 29 1'ests,'is threaded upon one end of a sleeve 3:3,the other end of which is threaded on the body 1.0. Said sleeve encloses the chambers :21 and 26, but the latter are spaced from theinside thereol". From the foregoing it will be notedthat the body ill, the sleeye 3:"), the nut 33 and the nipple comprise the casing of my improved valve;

The operation of my improved "alvo The valve having;- been inserted in a lluid line, as shown in Fig. 5, the nut 33 will be adjusted to permit a maximum movement oi the plug 24 under operating conditions, dependent upon thepressure obtaining in the inlet line 13 and the nu ximuni demand in the exhaust line 25. Pressure is then established in the line 13 and said pressure,

operating upon the end of the plug 24, moves said plug and'the attendant disk 22 downward againstfthe pressure exerted by the spring 32. For thesake of clearness, it will be understood that a maximum. demand existsin the exl' aust lino upper surface of the disk 22.

qlVhen the disk'EZQ reaches a positionot equilibrium, the total pressure on the upper side thereof is composedot the inlet pressure which operates over a projected area of the upper portion of the plug 2st and also of a pressure operating on the upper surface of said disk. Said last named n'essure will be lower than that obtaining in the line 1553, due to the t-ljirottliir; action ot the plug Jet and said pressure will also exist in the line 25 and, through the bypass 31, on the underside of the disk 27. pp

It now the demand in tluwexhaust line 2.? falls below a lllt1b1l11'1tllil,[l]0 supply at fluid which. had been establisheil to meet this maximum exceeds the new requiremcnt and, therefore, the pressure in the exhaust line 25 rises. y This rise in pressure operates through the bypass ill. and causes an upvard movement of the disk 27 until the metering plugfi l closes a sullicient amountat the orifice 20 to establish a. new condition of cquilibriiun, at Which time the flow through said orifice Will be suitable for the demaiul in the exhaust line From the foregoing, it will be obvious that fluctuation in the demand in the line 25 will cause correspond ing movements of the plug 24; in order to obtain a supply of fluid tomeet the changinn requirements, and that when the demaiul in said line ceases, the pressure will rise suiiiciently high to cause said plug to entirely close the orifice 20. i

It will. also be understood that, while the pressure fluid per square inch operating on the upper surface of the disk is the same as that operating upon the under surface oi hill the disk 27; since the interiors of the chuuu hers 21 and fit) are both connmted to the exhaust line 25, yet the total forces exerted at any instant on said disks bysaid pressure are not equal, due to the smaller area at the The parts, including the plug 2.1-. and spring 32, are so proportioned, however, as to obtain \tll'jflllfi conditions of eijplilibriluu as just dcscribeih depeiuling upon the pressure existing in the line 2. 3. i

Under ci-irtaio conditions of service, the line 25 may be so arranged that instantaiicons pressures therein may tend to cause an in creased tlow through the orilicc it! at a time when a contrary condition is required. b'uch a condition. exen'ipliiied in my coprmdiug application for a gas range hercinbcfore indicated. To prevent this contingency and to insure that the exhaust pressures will operate through the bypass 31, I mount a nipple 36 in the passage 12 having the ducts 37 and 38 of ditl'erent diameters. The adjacent ends of said ductsforrn the valve seat 39 which is adaptedt'or the reception of a ball 40 that normally rests on the bottom of the duct 38 against a stop 41. A coupling 4:2- is secured to the outer end oi the fil nipple Sband the exhaust line 25 is'mounted in said coupling. As long as the pressure in the chambers 21 and andthe line 25 is thesaine, the ball remains in thefullline position shown in Fig. 4; but it said pressure rises and the line is so arranged that the easiestpath therefor is toward the chamber 21 rather than the chamber 26, said ball will be moved into, the dotted position shown in said figure and so insure the actuation of the plug 2% in accordance with the new demand in said line. This ballcheck valve is intended to be representative of any type ofvalve for accomplishing the same purpose.

It will be noted that my improved valve is characterized by an entire absence of packed joints orglands which renders it particularly advantageous for use in connection with liquids and gases having penetrating properties. No valve'stems are required and as the moving parts are spaced from therenclosing casing, all sticking tendencies are obviated and said parts are therefore responsive to small changes in pressure, afactor which increases its accuracy as a throttling agent.

While I have shown one set of elements and combinations thereof for effecting one preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood thatl do not desire to be limited to the exactforms andstructures shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of'my'invention.

I claim: i

l. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an aux-- .iliary port adapted to be connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side'of said valve, an orifice communicating with saidinlet and exhaust ports, a chamber, communicating with said orifice, closed at one end and open to said exhaust port at the opposite end, the closed end of said chamber having a valve plug registering with said orifice and the lateral surface ofsaid chamber being formed of a plurality of extensible folds, a second chamber similar to said first named chamber having the closed end thereof abutting the closed end of said first named chamber and the opposite end thereof open to said auxiliary port, and a spring interposed between the closed end of said second named chamber and the adjacent end of'said casing whereby the pressure in said line by varying the lengths of said chambers determines the extent of tiow through said orifice.

A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to be connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, a pair of abutting extensible chambers positioned in said casing, one of said chambers communicating with said exhaust port and having a valve plug communicating with said exhaust port and having valve plug registering: with said orifice a-nd'the other ofsaid chambers com municating with said auxiliary port, whereby variations in'the pressure in said line, operating through said auxiliary port changes the lengths of said chambers and governs the extent of flow through said orifice.

4:. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to be connected tothe fluid line on the exhaust side of'saidval've, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaustports, a pairof abutting extensible one of chambers positioned in said casing,

said chambers communicating with said exhaust port and having a valveplug registering with said orifice and the other of said chambers communicating with said auxiliary port, andmeans positioned adjacent said exhaust port for preventing an inadvertent admission of a pressure higher than that obtaining in the chamber opening to said exhaust port.

5. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to beconneeted to the fiuid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, a pair of abutting extensible chambers positioned in said casing, one of said chambers communicating with said exhaust port and having a valve plug registering with said orifice and the other of said chambers communicating with said auxiliary port, and a check valve positioned adjacent said exhaust port for preventing an inadvertent admission of a pressure higher than that obtaining in the chamber opening to said exhaust port.

6. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to be connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, a pair of abutting extensible chambers positioned in said casing, one of said chambers being open to said exhaust port and having a valve plug regisall tering with said orifice and the other of: said chambers being open to said auxiliary port and means for adjusting the lengths of said chambers to obtain a predetermined mare imum flow through said orifice.

7. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to be connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, a pair of abutting errtensible chambers positioned in said casing, one of said chambers being open to said exhaust port and having a valve plug registering with said orifice and the other of said chambers being open to said auxiliary port, and manually ope *ated means for adjusting the lengthsof saidchambers to obtain apredetermined maximum flow through said orifice. v

8. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, means provided with an orifice connected to said inlet port, a chamber, communicating with said orifice, closed at one end and open to said exhaust port at the opposite end, the closed end of said chamber having a valve plug normally closing said orifice and the lateral surface of said chamber being formed of a plurality of extensible folds, said plug being actuated by the pressure existing in said inlet port, and means for adjusting said plug for a predetermined maximum move ment. u it 9. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an aura iliary port adapted to be connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, an extensible chamber having a valve plug registering with said orifice and connected to said exhaust port, and adjustable means actuated by the presby changing thelength of said chamber.

10. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, an auxiliary port adapted to is connected to the fluid line on the exhaust side of said valve, an orifice communicating with said inlet and exhaust ports, a chamber, eomnmnicating with said orifice, closed at one end and open to said exhaust port at the opposite end, the closed end of said chamber having a valve plug registering with said orifice and the late 'al surface of said chamber being formed of a plurality of extensible and a second chamber similar to said first named chamber having the closed end thercot" abutting the closed end of said first named oham her and the opposite end thereof open to aaiiil auxiliary port, and a spring adjustahly interposed between the closed end of said sec ond named chamber and the adjacent and of said casing whereby the pressure in said line byvarying the lengths of said chambers determines the extent of fiourthrough said orifice.

11. A valve comprising a casing provided with an inlet port, an exhaust port, means provided with an orifice connected to eaid. inlet port, an extensible chamber eoiuiemxed to said exhaust port and having a valve plug registering with said orifice, and adjustable yielding means adapted to normally maintain said metering means in closed re lation to said orifice, said plug being actuated to open said orifice a predetermined amount by the pressure existing in said inlet port and to close said orifice bysaid yielding means.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM G. MCKEOWN. 

